The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Driver flees scene of fatal accident

SEARCH: Police hunt motorist after crash leaves one person dead

- Sarah VeSty

Police in Fife are hunting the driver of a stolen car who caused a horrific fatal accident early yesterday morning.

The driver of a grey Audi A3 swerved on to the wrong side of the road in Edinburgh, causing two other vehicles to crash, one of which caught fire, killing its occupant. Two other adults and a child were taken to hospital and are still being treated.

The driver of the Audi fled from the site of the crash in Barnton to Fife, where he abandoned the vehicle in Cowdenbeat­h at around 3.50am.

Police have started a major investigat­ion and are seeking witnesses as they try to find the person responsibl­e.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger from Edinburgh CID said: “We have dedicated significan­t resources to this inquiry and while we have now recovered the Audi, the driver and anyone else within the car are yet to be traced.”

A car involved in a fatal road collision which left one person dead and three others injured has been found abandoned in Fife.

The grey Audi A3 was seen travelling at speed from the Barnton area of Edinburgh at around 12.30am yesterday before heading towards the Maybury roundabout.

The car then drove along the chevron area, overtaking a number of vehicles, before swerving into the opposing carriagewa­y.

A BMW was forced to swerve out of the way and collided with a Peugeot 206 which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The Peugeot then caught fire and the sole occupant of the car was found dead inside by fire crews.

The people inside the BMW – a 25-year-old man, 22-year-old woman and five-year-old girl – were taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where they continue to be treated.

The Audi A3 made off from the area following the collision and was found on Lochgelly Road in Cowdenbeat­h at around 3.50am.

The car was stolen from the Liberton area of Edinburgh on April 17.

A major investigat­ion has been launched and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward as the road remains closed.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger from Edinburgh CID said: “At this time we believe the stolen Audi A3 has been driven in a dangerous and reckless manner, which has caused this collision to take place in which a person has died.

“Those within this vehicle have then failed to stop and it appears they have thereafter travelled into Fife.

“We have dedicated significan­t resources to this inquiry and while we have now recovered the Audi, the driver and anyone else within the car are yet to be traced.

“As part of this investigat­ion we are keen to know if anyone has seen the stolen Audi A3 being driven or in unusual or suspicious circumstan­ces in Edinburgh or elsewhere since April 17 2018.

“We are also keen to trace the occupants of a silver-coloured hatchback car, which is believed to have been travelling in convoy with the Audi and is also believed to have headed into Fife.

“I would ask that anyone who can help us trace these individual­s to contact police immediatel­y.”

Those with informatio­n can contact CID at Corstorphi­ne via 101 and quote incident number 108 of May 25.

Alternativ­ely, an anonymous report can be made to Crimestopp­ers on 0800 555 111.

We have dedicated significan­t resources to this inquiry and while we have now recovered the Audi, the driver and anyone else within the car are yet to be traced

 ?? Picture: SWNS. ?? Remains of the burnt car on Maybury Road, west of Edinburgh city centre.
Picture: SWNS. Remains of the burnt car on Maybury Road, west of Edinburgh city centre.

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